Gradometer.



R. H. EDMISTN.

GRADOMETER.

1,199,355. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 19.10. Patentedsept. 26

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Patented sept. 26,1916.

R. H. EDMISTON.

GRADOMETER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, |910.

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ROBERT n. EDMIsToN, or Lone BEACH, CALIFORNIA. v

GRADOMETER.

Specification of Iletters Patent. Patented Sept 26, 1916.

Appli-cation led March 30, 1910. Serial o. 552,434.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT H. EDMIs'roN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Longv Beach, in the county of Los Angeles and .State of California, have invented a new and useful Gradometer, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for Vlocating the points for slope stakes and for measuring the cubic contents of railway and other earth work.

The object of this invention is to greatly simplify the operation and to greatly reduce the labor and length of time required Vfor determining the data relating to earth work, and to minimize the liability of error in the calculations of such earth work.

Heretofore in constructing road beds, the work of locating the slope stakes, taking the measurements and computing the earth work has been very tedious and laborious. After the center line of the road-bed is located and stakes set at one hundred feet apart and the levels of the ground at the stakes are taken and the engineer has established the grade, the places at which the slope stakes must be set are determined by measuring at right angles from the center line to the sides of the grade; such measurements being made at each of the center stakes, also at each point where a definite change of surface occurs, to the points, respectively, where the cut or ill, as the case may be will terminate and there the slope stakes are set in the earth. v

Heretofore there has been no'method of instantly determining the distance out from the center line at which the slope stakes should be set, and the points at which said slope stakes must be set have only been determinable by experiment.

An object of this invention is to enable the engineer or his assistant to locate such points mechanically and without experiment.

Another object is'to enable the engineer or his assistant to at once determine without calculation the height of ill, or depth of cut, distance out from center line and amount of earth work for one foot in length at any cross section.

An object of the invention is to provide an instrument by which the cubic contents of each linear foot of an excavation or fill may be determined instantly in cubic yards when the measurement is mede, thus enabling the engineer to practically make his computations of the earth work in the field and avoiding the necessity yof night Work or extra day-Work in making computations.

l have discovered that by constructing a gradometer comprising rods inscribed for making vertical and transverse measurements of a cut or fill, and a graduated slope rod having thereon inscriptionsl to` indicate Vcubical contents per lineal unit of the cut or fill; said rods vbeing connected together in pivotal and slidable relation with each other that it is made possible to accomplish this object; and I regard the invention as pioneer in that, heretofore no instrument of like character or capable of accomplishing the same Work has been provided or suggested, and thel invention is regarded as including the novel gradometer slope rod provided with graduations for lineal measurement and inscriptions in connection with Vsuch graduations respectively, to indicate cubical contents of a portion of a cut or fill measured With relation to the graduations.`

With this instrumentY the only computations necessary fora days work after the days measurements are taken is to simply vcompute theysum totals of theV stations by simple arithmetical processes which any person with a common school educatlon can perform, accuracy alone being required.

Another object is to provide an instrument by which the side measurements may be readily taken on ground covered with brush without the necessity of cutting any brush at the sides of the center line, thus greatly saving time as Well as labor.

In the accompanying detail description the term slope foot is used to indicate the quotients resulting from dividing the hypotenuse of a vertical triangleby its base or perpendicular. The term horizontal slope foot is used to indicate the result from dividing such hypotenuse by the base; and the term vertical slope foot. is used to indicate the lresult from dividing the hypotenuse by the perpendicular. For example In a slope of 1- to l, the base and perpendicular are of the same length; and therefore the vertical slope foot and horizontal slope foot Y are in that case the same; while in a slopev of 1% to 1, the base being 1% times the perpendicular, the horizontal slope foot is just two-thirds the length of the vertical slope foot.V For the purpose. ofllustraton com bottom of the fill is 13 feet from the center of the road bed; It also indicates thatl the cubical contents of one lineal foot of that half of the road bed for which the measurement is made is 1.48148 cu. yds.

The vertical rods, horizontal rodV andA rods, the horizontal rod may be devoid of graduations.

The slope rod may be provided on its opposite faces with various scales in which the graduations a., b, c, are calculated for the various slopes to which the apparatus may be applied for measurement, and the auxiliary or side hill rod will be graduated on one side with graduations cl e corresponding to the graduation on the-vertical rods, and on another side with graduations correspending to graduations. a in Fig. 10, giv` ing the depth of cut and the height of fill for a bank of 1 to 1. rlhe graduations a do not mark lineal feet relative to the slope-rod 4, but mark the vertical distance between the horizontal planes of the road bed surface and the ground surface at the toe of the slope; z'. c. at the point where the slope rod touches the ground at the bottom of the slope. The graduations Z) indicate lineal feet relative to the bottom of a rightangle triangle of which the slope rod forms the hypotenuse and the rod l forms the vertical side; so that when the rod 1 is set on the center line of the road bed and the rod 2 is set on the top edge of the road bed and the slope-rod rests on the ground, the graduation Z) at the rod 2 indicates the horizontal distance between the rod 1 and a vertical line drawn from the lower end of the slope rod '-2. For convenience of description, I term the graduations a slope feet.

In a 1 to l slope (see Fig. 10) the graduations Z) are of the same length as the graduations a.. In a to l slope the graduations b are twice those of a, and in a l?? to 1 slope the graduations of a are one and a half the length ofthe graduations b.

The slide clamps 9 and 18 that connect the horizontal rod with the vertical rods are each provided with orices 19 and 20, the orifices 19 being for the vertical rods and the orifices 2O for the horizontal rod. The set-screws 11 and 22 are provided to fix the horizontal rod in the orifices 20, and the set-screws 10 and 21 are provided to engage the vertical rods to hold theL horizontal rod at the required heights thereon.

The horizontal rod may be made extensible as shown in- Figs. 5, 6 and 7, being halved together and provided with the clam sleeves 23 23 havin@ set-screws 2a.

A like extensible construction is provided for the eXtensible brace 5 having the sleeves 25 with set-screws 26.

The horizontal rod in the form shown, is composed of two bars 27' and 28 and in Ythe upper side of' each, near the ends thereof, are bubble-tubes 29, 30, so that the attendants stationed at the vertical rods respectively, can each readily determine'when the horizontal rodr is in a true 'horizontal position. The side-hill rod 6 is also provided with a bubble-tube 31 nearone end so that the attendant may level the same. The slope rod slides freely through the pivotal Lsleeve 16 so that the attendant in charge thereof can slip it up and down as required to bring the lower end onto thev ground. The brace 5 holds the sleeve rigid at the appropriate angle for the slope rod ac- Y cording to which face thereof is to be read.

Before beginning operations, the attendants will set the gradometer by adjusting the sloperod to an angle with `the horizontal rpld 8, corresponding to that ofthe proposed bank slope with the horizon. That is to say, for a slope of one to one, the slope rod forms the hypotenuse of a right angle triangle the base and perpendicular of which will be equal, while for a slope of one and one-half to one, the base of the triangle will be one and one-half times the perpendicular, andl for a slope of one-half to one, the base will be equal to one-half the perpendicular. When the gradometer has been set, the attendants will bring it into upright position with the center perpendicular rod at the center line of the survey. The attendant having charge of the center vertical rod 1 will bring said rod to position over the center line at the point from which the measurement is to be taken and the attendant in charge of the side vertical rod 2 will carry such rod to a point at the side where the horizontal rod is practically normal to the center line of the proposed road-bed.

In practice there are employed four personsA` viz: an attendant for each of the vertical rods, an engineer or other person having the grade book which gives the elevations forthe grade at the center line; and

Y in which book he will record the readings or measurements at each station and sub-sta.-"

tion and an attendant to drive the slope stakes. The engineer or other man in charge will call the amount of the cut or fill at the center line of the cross section at which the slope stake is to be set, and the vertical rod attendants will set the horizontal rod atthat height on the vertical center rod corresponding to the cut or fill called, and will set the vertical rod on the surface at the center line. The sich vertical rod attendant will From the nature of the views these readings are not shown in the drawings. The slope foot in a slope of 1 to 1:1.414 vertical or horizontal feet. The vertical and horizontal slope foot in a slope of 1 to 1 are the same.

It is customary'in railroad grading for single track that the surface of the road-bed in the cut shall be 18 feet wide and the surface of the road-bed on the ll shall be 14 feet wide. Therefore the distance horizontally from center line of the road-bed to the edge of the road-bed in the cut is nine feet, and on the ll is seven feet.

Fig. 3 shows a cut on the right; but it shows a fill on the left, and consequently at some point on the cross section there is a grade point. In this case, if we set the horizontal rod 3 on vertical rod 1 at C. 0.6 the center cut called for, we nd the surface at vertical rod 2 too high to level the horizontal rod, so we set it any distance above so it will be ona level and above the surface on vertical rod 2. In this case we set the rod 1.4 above the center cut C. 0.6, which places the horizontal rod 2.0 above the road-bed, and when level and clamped at vertical rod 2 it is 0.4 above the surface, showing a cut at that point of 1.6. But the surface is rising to the right and we nd the point for slope v and level it, and we have it set on vertical rodV stake as described in connection with the use shown in Fig. 4.

On the left the surface is lower, and we iind it below grade. .Set slope rod 4 to 1715 to 1, thus setting the gradometer for measuring the slope of the fill. Change the horizontal rod 3 from 9.0, half the width o f the road-bed surface in a cut, to 7.0, half the width of the surface of the road-bed on a fill,

1 at 1.4:2.0 above grade, and a vertical rod 2 it is set at 3.00 showing a ll of 1.00. Now run the slope rod 4 out until it reaches a point that is 2.00 above the surface of ground and we have the point fora slope stake. The distance read in slope feet from the lower end of slope rod 4 to the surface must be the same distance read in lineal feet that the horizontal rod 3 is above grade. The ll and distance out are read on the slope rod as in Fig. 3 except that the calibrations c of the slope rod as shown in Fig. 5 willA be used, the same being calibrations for a slope of 1.5 to 1. Now the horizontal rod being V2.0 above the road-bed we have only. to nd a point where the surface is just 2.0 below the horizontal rod which is the grade point at 2.3 to the left of center stake. The cut' to the left of thecenter stake is a triangle, and the fill consists of two triangles, so the end area may be found in cubic yards for one foot in length from a correction table not shown, giving the cubic contents for one foot in length of the triangular parts of cubical cross sections.

Fig. 4: Right side shows a side-hill cut,

road-bed 18 feet, slope, 1 to 1 and center cut 4.00. We place the gradoineter in position and set the horizontal rod 3 at 4.00 on the vertical rod 1, at center stake. This places the horizontal rod at 8.00 above the roadbed, and when level and clamped on the vertical rod 2, we find it 1.00 above the surface of the ground, showing the surface at that point to` be 3.00 higher than the center, and a cut of 7.00 at that point. Now we want a point for the slope stake, not shown, that will be the same distance from the vertical rod 2, that it would be vertically above the elevation of the road-bed. To find this point, we use a light side-hill rod 6 With'a bubble tube 31 near the inner end, and graduated in feet and tenths of feet; leveling it at 1.00 on vertical rod 2, which is 8.00 above the road-bed, we find the horizontal distance to be short; but, placing it .farther out and at the same time higher on vertical rod 2, we find a point at 3.3 on the vertical rod 2 which:10.3 above the road-bed, where the side-hill rod 6 reads 10.3 feet, `which gives the point for the slope stake and a cut 10.3 distance out, being 19.3 feet, the distance out from the center of the road-bed.

By looking on the slope rod at cut 10.3, or in the e'arthwork table, not shown, for l8- foot roadebed, slope 1 to 1, we find for the half cross section cut 10.325.397 96 cubic yards; then in the correction table, not shown, for 19.3 6.3, (10.3 center cut 4.0: 6.3) we 6nd 2.25167 cubic yards to be subtracted V5.39796-f2-25167', equals 3.14629 cubic yards for one foot in length, on the right of center line. That'is to say, the cubic measure 5.39796 cu. yds. represents the cubic contents of a body extending one foot along the roadbed and bounded by triangle whose base is the horizontal distance from the road center to the slope stake, said distance being 13.3 feet, the perpendicular being 10.3 feet, and the hypotenuse a distance from the center of the road bed to the slope stake; thus .leaving out of account the excavation of the obtuse triangle whose base or shortest side is the half width of the road bed, the next longest side, the length of the slope from the edge of the road bed to the slope stake, andthe longest side, the line from the slope stake to the center of the, road bed. The correction of 2.25167 cu.Y yds. to be deducted represents theportion of the cross section measured by the instrument which is not to be excavated, so thatv when the deduction is made, the remainder 3.14629 is the true amount of the required excavation.

On the leftV the surface is lower than the center. The gradometer being set with its at the Ycenter, of the road bed, and the hori- 'zontal rod being level and clamped on vertical rod 2, weV run the slope rod out four slope feet, (the horizontal and vertical slope feet being the same length in a slope of 1 to l), at which point it meetsV and is normal to the prolonged line of slope of bank. With the side-hill rod, which is also graduated in slope-feet, we measure from the lower end of and normal to the slope rod to the ground, this being the slope of bank prolonged. The end of the slope rod being 4.00 above and 4.00 to the left side of the edge of the road-bed, we take the distance from the end of the slope rod to the surface, which is 3.30 slope eet,:3.30 vertical or horizontal slope feet, and subtract from 4.00, which gives the cut 4.00-3.30:cut 0.70.

I claim 1. A gradometer comprising two vertical rods, a horizontal rod fastened to said vertical rods between the same, and a slope rod in pivotal relation with and adjustable relative to the vertical and horizontal rods and provided with graduations and inscriptions to indicate the cubical contents of a lineal cross section unit of a cut or fill, said inscriptions showing the vcubical contents of the cut or fill indicated at various positions of the slope rod.

2. The combination with a vertical rod, of a horizontal rod adjustablymounted on the vertical rod, a slope rod adjustably connected by sliding horizontal pivotal means with the vertical rod, means to hold the slope rod in true position, said slope rod being provided with graduations and inscriptions readable with relation to the vertical rod and the horizontal rod to indicate the cubical contents of a lineal cross sectional unit of the cut or fill to be measured.

3. The combination with vertical rods, of a horizontal rod connecting the same and a graduated slope rod slidingly connected with one of said vertical rods, said vertical and horizontal rods being graduated for lineal measurement, and said slope rod being graduated and inscribed to indicate cubical contents of a cross-sectional lineal unit of a cut or fill.

4. A gradometer comprising a vertical rod, horizontal rod adjustably connected thereto, a sleeve pivotally connected with the horizontal rod, means to hold the sleeve against pivotal movement and a slope rod slidable in the sleeve and graduated and inscribed substantially as and for the purpose set forth; said slope rod being slidably and pivotally connected with saidk means.

5. In combination, graduated rods atV right angles to each other slfidably connected together and inscribed for making vertical and trans-verse measurements, and a graduated slope rod slidably connected to said vertical rod and pivotall-y connected relative to said vertical and transverse measurement-,rods at the junction thereof, said slope rod being inscribed at its graduations with numerals that are products of said measurements and of a unit of lineal meas-V urement.

6. A gradometer comprising two vertical rods, a horizontal rod slidable vertically along said vertical rods, means to hold the rods in slidable relation, a slope rod in slidable relation with and pivoted to the horizontal rod, and an eXtensible brace pivotally connecting the slope rod with the horizontal rod.

7. The combination with a vertical rod of a horizontal rod adjustable thereon, a sloping slide sleeve, slidable on the vertical rod with the horizontal rod and a slope rod slidable `in the sleeve for measuring the slopes of the proposed cut or ll.

8. In a gradometer, the combination of` two vertical rods, a horizontal rod connect-l ing the same, a slope sleeve connected to'one of said vertical rods and a slope rod ad* justable in the slope sleeve.

9. In a gradometer, the combination of two vertical rods, a horizontal rod connect-` ing the same a slope sleeve connected to one of said vertical rods and a slope rod adjustable in the slope sleeve; said slope sleeve being adjustable toy change the angle of the slope rod relative to the other rods, and means to hold the slope sleeve in true position.

l0. A- gradometer comprising two vertical rods, a horizontal rod, means to adjustably clamp the horizontal rod on the vertical rods, a sleeve in pivotal relation to the horizontal rod, an adjustable brace to hold the sleeve in true position and a slope rod sli/d-V able in said sleeve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set. my hand at Los Angeles, California, this 24th day of March, 1910.'

JAi/ms R. TowNsEND, L. BELLE Rien.

Copies of this patent may -he obtained for vc cents each, by addressing the Commindoner o: Patents. Washington, D. C.

Itis hereby certed that in Lettere Patent 1,199,355-, granted September 26, 1916, upon the application of Robert H. Edmiston, of Long Beach, California, for an improvement in Gradometers, errors appear in the printed specication .requiring correction as follows: Page 2,*lines 56-57, strike out the Words and numeral road bed 14 feet Wide, the Sides of which have a, same page-line 59 r as now numbered, after the article a insert the Words and numeral road bed 14 feet wide, the sides of which have a; and that the Said Letters Patent ,should be read with these corrections therenthat the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oice. l

Signed and sealed this 21st day of November, A. D., 1916.`

[SEAL] F. W. H. CLAY, l

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

Corrections in Letters Patent No. 1,199,355. 

